[Video-Open]

The war on Iraq has begun- This was the scene over Baghdad about an hour and half ago.
Tonight President Bush said this.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:15:07]
[IN Q=]
((AMERICAN AND COALITION FORCES ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF MILITARY OPERATIONS TO DISARM IRAQ, TO FREE ITS PEOPLE AND TO DEFEND THE WORLD FROM GRAVE DANGER.))
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=from grave danger.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]

[SS=NEws 7 @ 11][Iraq]

Good Evening. I'm Jean Jadhon.
The clock runs out tonight for Saddam Hussein and his regime.
Saddam did not leave Iraq and as promised military force is being used.
Air raid sirens began going off at about 9:30 tonight- early morning Iraqi time- and shortly after explosions were heard.
In a moment analysis from Middle East Expert Dale Davis,
[IRAQ DOUBLE BOXES=Jean/Newspath;]

((THE BLASTS HEARD IN BAGHDAD MADE IT LOUD AND CLEAR -- TIMES UP FOR
SADDAM HUSSEIN AND IRAQS LEADERSHIP.
PRESIDENT BUSH:
At is hour ...... to wage war
NO AIRPLANES WERE VISIBLE IN THE SKIES OVER BAGHDAD ... BUT AIR RAID
SIRENS BLARED.
YELLOW AND WHITE TRACERS FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT WERE SEEN IN THE SKY ... AND
A NUMBER OF STRONG EXPLOSIONS WENT OFF IN THE CITY.
ONE OF THEM CREATED A BALL OF FIRE.
IN BAGHDAD, IRAQI TROOPS PREPARED FOR AN ATTACK ... BUT PRESIDENT BUSH
URGED THEM TO SURRENDER -- AND HOPED THE LIVES OF CIVILIANS WILL BE
SPARED.
PRESIDENT BUSH SAID THE WAR COULD BE LONGER AND MORE DIFFICULT THAN SOME
PREDICT.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CBS NEWS, KUWAIT.))

[Dale-Davis]

So what happens next?
Former Marine and Middle East Expert Dale Davis is just back from Kuwait.
He Joins us now on the phone from Lexington.
(XXXXXXXX)
[DALE DAVIS PHONE GRAPHIC]
(adlib Interview)
(-------------)

(-------------)
[DAVE WILL CALL FOR LIVE PICTURE FROM CNN]
[SUPER=205-Baghdad, Iraq]
(-------------)

[Speech-Reaction]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC1:08:40]
[GRAPHIC=First Strike]
The President's message may have been brief but customers at one Roanoke restaurant were paying attention.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]
At T-G-I Fridays at Valley View Mall, television sets were tuned in to the President and we found folks listening intently as Bush addressed the nation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=201-Christina Dudley; :00 ]
[SUPER=201-Jason Dudley; :10]
[SUPER=201-Aaron Rivers; :20]
[RUNS=30 ]
[OUT Q=100- percent.]
(------------)
[anchor=Jean]
[ss=Hold]
We did not run across anyone who was against the President tonight- although we realize there are people who view toni

ght's events differently. [React-Iraq]

Residents of western Virginia also played a waiting game tonight as the deadline passed.
Anxious for news of any military action, many said prayers for the men and women who will fight this war.
[***IRAQ IN MONITOR**]
[DOUBLE BOXES=JEan & JoeD /Pulpit;]

Joe Dashiell is in the studio tonight after speaking with some veterans. Joe, what did they have to say?
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Pulpit]
[SUPER=219-Joe Dashiell/jdashiell*wdbj7.com;]

Jean, we've heard many different perspectives in recent weeks as we've moved closer to armed conflict.
Tonight with war looming, their thoughts were with the men and women who are now in harm's way.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There were prayers for peace]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=201-Laurie Clay/Gulf War Veteran; :14]
[SUPER=201-James Clem/Vietnam Veteran; :37]
[SUPER=201-Bob Clay/U. S. Army Veteran; :44]
[SUPER=201-Larry Gordon/Vietnam Veteran; :53]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=get these boys and girls home.]

((There were prayers for peace at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church, and prayers for the men and women who are now serving in the Persian Gulf.
That concern for the troops was also shared by veterans of earlier conflicts.
[SOT 01:34:58]
[IN Q=We have a lot of young soldiers]
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=but still it's scary.]

Members of the Disabled American Veterans gathered in front of a television as the deadline passed.... and talked of unfinshed business.
[SOT]
[IN Q=We didn't]
((WE DIDN'T GET THE JOB DONE THEN WE NEED TO NOW. WE NEED IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM TO DRIVE HUSSEIN OUT.))
(( I WAS ON ACTIVE DUTY WHEN THE GULF WAR STARTED THE LAST TIME. I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS AND WHAT I WAS DOING, AND IT'S TIME TO PUT AN END TO THIS.))
((SADDAM HUSSEIN IS NOT GOING TO DO WHAT HE SHOULD DO. HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE WITH HIS VICIOUS WAYS, SO LET'S TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND GET THESE BOYS AND GIRLS HOME. ))
[RUNS= :25]
[OUT Q=get these boys and girls home.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Pulpit]

And get them home safe and sound. Disabled American Veterans say they hope this conflict won't bring new members to their organization...
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jean & JoeD /Pulpit;]

But Jean they fear it will.

[Iraqis]

Some Iraqis living in Roanoke have been anxious for the war to start.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]

Ali Al Jizani and his friends say the Iraqi people will greet U-S soldiers with flowers.
They fled Iraq after the Gulf War, leaving behind parents, siblings and wives.
They say their families are all eager for U-S and allied troops to bring down Saddam Hussein.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:22:55]
[IN Q=Well, I think]
((WELL, I THINK GOD SENT THEM TO HELP US. SO, WE WAITED FOR THAT AND IF THEY NEED HELP, WE WILL HELP. AND I WILL SPEND ALL OF MY LIFE JUST TO SEE SADDAM DIE. ))
[SUPER=201-Ali Al Jizani;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=see Saddam die.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The F-B-I is interviewing 10-thousand Iraqis now living in the U-S, hoping for information that could lead to terrorists.
Al Jizani and other Iraqis here say they're happy to cooperate because they love America and want terrorists to be caught.
[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]

Still ahead on News 7, more on the nation prepares for all-out war.
We'll talk to a Marine Recruiter.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

And see how folks here in the U-S are working extra hard to keep the troops supplied with a little piece of home.
(-------------)

[Recruiting]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-11 TC03:04]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD First Strike]
Many troops stuck stateside are waiting for an opportunity to head overseas to serve their country.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :23]
[SUPER=203-Martinsville;]
Sergeant Robert Gregory has served in a recruiting mission in Martinsville for nearly three years.
On May First he will be transferred to Camp Lejeune to rejoin the First Light Armored Reconnaissance, and after that if a war is still going on he will likely be shipped to the Middle East.
He says he is looking forward to that opportunity, but for now he knows some of the men he recruited are ready for action.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 2:01]
[IN Q=Marines are always ready...]
((SGT. ROBERT GREGORY/UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS; MARINES ARE ALWAYS READY. WE'RE READY TO GO ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE CALLED AMERICA'S ELITE FORCE, 9-11 FORCE AND READINESS. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SITTING READY TO GO.))
[SUPER=201-Sgt. Robert Gregory/U. S. Marine Corps;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=sitting, ready to go.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[SS=HOLD]
Sergeant Gregory says he has NOT seen an increase in enlistment like the period following September 11th because many potential recruits are waiting to see how the war plays out.

[Care-Packages]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq OTS]

Care packages are going out to the potential war zone.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 13]
[SUPER=203-Wayland, MI;]

They are filled with pencils, paper, crackers and all types of snacks.
They will go to soldiers serving in Kuwait.
The products were donated by businesses.
And veterans are shipping them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:09]
((IT IS OUR BELIEVE THAT A MEMBER OF OUR ARMED FORCES DESERVE THE SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.))
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=201-Audie Neial Davis/VFW Member;]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=of the American people.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 12 plus pad]

Davis says he wants our soldiers to know they have the support of the American people. He says the boxes are filled with reminders of home and they will continue going out until the conflict is over.
(--------------)

[Navy-Bride]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC39:35]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Nine days.
That is how long one Radford couple had been married before the husband was shipped off to confront Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Jonathan and Sherrie Sifford were married back in December.
[SUPER=203-Radford;]
Jonathan then left for training, but soon found out his plans of coming home in about a month had changed.
The couple has been communicating with each other since then, through email.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:45]
[IN Q=I THOUGHT YOU KNOW]
((21:45 I THOUGHT YOU KNOW WE WERE GOING TO START A FAMILY AND EVERYTHING AND I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SUMMER, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THAT 21:54))
[SUPER=201-Sherrie Sifford/Newlywed;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=LIKE THAT]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Sherrie was planning to go to Norfolk tomorrow to see and talk to her husband through satellite, but it was canceled.

Despite her disappointment, she says she will continue to write letters and send care packages, until her husband returns.
(------------)

[Tech-Policy]

You can add former Hokie Bruce Smith and the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to the list of those who oppose Virginia Tech's new admissions policy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/March 9]

The Board of Visitors voted last week to bar race, gender and other factors in admissions decisions, based on the advice of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore.
[SUPER=03-Ashburn/2000]

In a written statement, Smith says he is "outraged" that the Board acted without advance notice or public input.
He also says he will "work hard" to reverse the new policy.
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus today accused the Attorney General of playing politics.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:55:57]
[IN Q=IT APPEARS THAT HE'S PANDERING]
((SEN. HENRY MARSH/D-RICHMOND: IT APPEARS THAT HE'S PANDERING TO THE RIGHT WING INTERESTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO DIVERSITY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Henry Marsh/(D) Richmond]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=BELIEVE IT OR NOT IN VIRGINIA.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The lawmakers say it is wrong to eliminate race-based preferences while continuing to give legacies special treatment.
(------------)

[Mystery-Illness]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Authorities are watching eleven suspected cases of a mystery flu like illness... including one here in Virginia.
Doctors say the patient had recently traveled to Asia, where the illness is believed to have originated.
The patient was immediately QUARANTINED at Chesapeake General Hospital after the C-D-C confirmed all the criteria had been met for the disease.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT-19:26:32]
[IN Q=THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND CDC]
((THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND CDC WILL ROUTINELY SEND US THIS KIND OF INFORMATION AND THANK GOODNESS IN THIS CASE IT REALLY SERVED ITS PURPOSE WELL BECAUSE THE PHYCISIAN WAS ALSO MADE AWARE AND INITIATED PROCEDURES EARLY))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Nancy Welsh/Chesapeake General Hospital]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=INITIATED PROCEDURES EARLY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file]

The hospital staff that came in contact with the patient is being monitored.
The illness, dubbed, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS has stricken more than two hundred fifty people worldwide.
The majority of cases have been in health workers in Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
Doctors say SARS comes from a family of viruses similar to those that cause mumps, measles and canine distemper.
There is no known cure at this time.
(------------)

[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[SS=None]

Still ahead on News 7, new jobs are heading to Botetourt County.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

And they're digging out in Denver.
(----------------)

[Commercial]

[New-Jobs]

Expansion plans mean new job opportunities in Botetourt County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
Metalsa is hiring 70-people at its facility in the Vista Corporate Park.
The manufacturer of heavy truck rail frames is building a 150-thousand square foot addition.
The construction, to be completed by late September, will double its production capacity.
Metalsa is based in Mexico but opened up operations in Botetourt County in 19-96.
They currently employee 134-people. New jobs will likely be in operations and production.
(------------)

[Denver-Snow]

Winter is going out with a bang in Colorado.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Denver, CO;]

So much heavy wet snow fell in Denver, a roof caved in under the weight of it.
A man on the second floor of the building was injured, though not seriously.
More than 29 inches of snow pummeled the Denver region and more could be on the way.
Only essential and emergency personnel are out on the roads.
Schools, offices stores and restaurants are closed.
(------------)

[S-Extra]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=EXTRA & SP-139 10354TC]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
NCAA hoops from D-1 to D-3 to the NIT as UVa and Ga. Tech win tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-ACC; :00]
But first in tonight's Extra Point - Georgia Tech's Chris Bosh won won ACC rookie of the year honors tonight.
Bosh received 68 of a possible 92 votes from members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, while J.J. Redick picked up 12 votes.
The final 8 went to North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton.
Bosh, who is six feet 10 inches tall led the conference in field goal percentage, was second in rebounding and averaged 16 points a game.
(------------)
[GO TO SCORES]
[go to scores]
[SUPER=#556;]
[SUPER=x5027;]
[SUPER=0098-/Brown/73/j/Virginia/89//NIT First Round//Ohio State/58/j/Georgia Tech/72//NIT First Round/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/St. John's/62//Boston University/57//NIT First Round/j/Providence/67//Richmond/49//NIT First Round/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/College of Charleston/71//Kent State/66//NIT First Round/j/Western Michigan/63//Illinois-Chicago/62//NIT
First Round/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/Rhode Island/61//Seton Hall/60//NIT First Round/j/Iowa State/76//Wichita State/65//NIT First Round/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/Minnesota/62//St. Louis/52//NIT First Round//Texas Tech/65//Nevada/54/2/NIT First Round/;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUTCUE=last score."]
(------------------)

[S-UVa]

The Virginia Cavaliers opened their 10th National Invitational Tournament last night in front of less than 5000 fans at U-hall against Brown out of the Ivy League.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/Brown vs. UVa; :00]
The Wahoos were without Derrick Byars who had a sprained ankle.
UVa would get a big first half lift from center Nick Vanderlaan. He had 10 before intermission and 13 for the game.

Virginia also got a solid game from senior Travis Watson. He throws down the alley-oop from Todd Billet. Watson had a game high 29.
Brown stayed within striking distance all night thanks to the Ivy League's leading scorer Earl Hunt.
Virginia's Devin Smith would answer Hunt with a behind the
[super=33-Brown/73/Virginia/89/UVa now 16 and 15;]
back pass to Jason Clark for the dunk.
UVa colors Brown blue with the 89 to 73 win.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=NIT]
It may have just been Brown - but the win snaps a 13 game postseason losing streak for UVa.

[S-Tech]

Only a 52 hundred fans were in Atlanta last night to watch Ohio State
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA/espn2; :00]
and head coach Jim O'Brien take a shot at Georgia Tech.
But the Big 10 Buckeyes were no match for the ACC Jackets as Chris Bosh scored 18 and teammate Is-mail Mohammed added 8 more
[super=33-Ohio State/58/Georgia Tech/72;]
as Georgia Tech advances with the 72-to-58 win over the Buckeyes.
(------------)

[S-NCAA]

And as they do that there will be subtle and sometimes not so subtle reminders and tributes at most if not all of the games to honor the U.S. soldiers in the middle east.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITES]
[SUPER=01-Myles Brand/NCAA Executive Director; :00]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=...VAROUS WAYS."]
(-----------)

[S-WDBJ]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(XXXXXXXXX)
[GO TO PINNACLE THUR. AFTERNOON]
Right now the tourney is still set to open at 12:10 after an abbreviated News 7 at Noon today with these two games.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[GO TO PINNACLE THUR. NIGHT]
The night session will showcase Duke against Colorado State in the nightcap..
(------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON]
Our Friday games will have Kentucky in the early game, followed by Wake and ETSU.
(----------)
[GO TO PINNACLE FRIDAYNIGHT]
On Friday night - it's Louisville and Austin Peay followed by Maryland and UNC Wilmington.
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=mike]
[graphic=final four]
If the war picks up at any time today - CBS news will take over the airwaves - and the tournament games will move to ESPN.

[S-Howard]

Wake Forest and Xavier are in different regions of the men's NCAA tournament.
But Travis Wells says the Demon Deacons and the Musketeers have a common thread leading back to Chatham.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio..]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Josh Howard/ACC Player of the Year; :21]
[SUPER=@travis1; :41]
[SUPER=01-Scott Shepherd/Virginia Assistant Coach; :50]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
((Wake Forest Coach Skip Prosser spent 15 years on the bench at Xavier, but that's not the only link between the Cincinnati school and Prosser's Wake team. ACC Player of the Year, Josh Howard played on the same prep school squad as Xavier superstar David West at Hargrave Military Academy. Now, both are candidates to claim national Player of the Year Honors.
Josh:
Travis: Perhaps no one knows the talents of West and Howard better than UVA assistant Scott Shepherd, who coached the two during their relatively short stay in Chatham.
Scott:
West may be the best player in the tournament that no one knows about. For the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year to meet his old buddy on the floor, both Wake and Xavier would have to reach the Final Four. The Musketeers face a possible second round date with Maryland while the Demon Deacs square off with East Tennessee State in the first round. The Bucs are led by another Hargrave alum, point guard Tim Smith. Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))

[S-NASCAR]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-140 10803tc]
[GRAPHIC=men's final four]
None of the state's division one men's teams made it to the NCAA tournament, so they might as well try and make it on the track.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
Hermie Sadler of Sadler Motorsports is donating the sponsorship of his Winston car to four different universities in the state for five races.
UVa, JMU and VCU will get one race each, while the Virginia Tech car will be featured this weekend at Bristol and the fall race at Martinsville.
The Universities will pay for the right to grace the hoods and quarter panels, but any money they make from selling associate sponsorships and collectibles goes to the general scholarship fund of each school.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Hermie Sadler/Sadler Motorsports; :00]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=...scholarship purposes."]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]
The Tech car will be on campus in Blacksburg today.

[S-Mast]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=RICK MAST]
The Martinsville Speedway announced yesterday that Rick Mast will serve as Grand Marshal for the Advance Auto Parts 250 Craftsman truck series race on April 12th at 3pm.